Water Therapy at Wailua Falls

Date: 05/26/2011

Location: Wailua Falls, Hana, Maui

Size: 12" x 36"

Medium: Oil on stretched canvas

Artist's Comments: At the end of my John Cosby workshop in Maui, I budgeted a few extra days to relax and spent 2 of those days in Hana enjoying the lush tropical jungle, seemingly private beaches and my personal favorite - dipping into the abundant roadside pools.  When you live in the desert known as Waikoloa - rivers become a real awe and to be able to easily access and swim in them is so joyous! One pool in particular, Wailua Falls, really inspired me. Maybe because it is the namesake of the Kona Brewing Company's Wailua Wheat beer or perhaps it was due to its grand yet gentle falls that cascade into a deep pool and allowed me to swim beneath the natural water jets for an awesome neck massage (without worrying about a rogue rock hitting my head!).  I decided after returning from a second dip that this waterfall warranted an attempt for me to capture it on canvas. Prior to my John Cosby workshop, this scene would be overwhelmingly daunting - so much so that I have never attempted to paint a waterfall portraitl.  But with new techniques in hand, I boldly mixed colors and applied paint with John Cosby's voice ringing in my head... "Push the light!", "Maintain your lightest and darkest values!", "Maintain color harmony and create planal truth!"... and so many more. I have to admit through the process, I was stumped 2 or 3 times and I called on these lessons to help pull me through to a finished painting.  I was impressed with the success I achieved by following what I learned. Finally!  After 1.5 weeks of diligent study, my paint brush was getting the gist of the lessons and doing what it was instructed to do!

To view other paintings in my collection, click on the section labeled "View all SitaScapes" located at the top right of my blog. I have categorized my paintings by the month as I complete them.
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